Sonico Strolling and Soul Searching

[sonicosuper]

Sonico has been missing from her home for a few days now, but at least she left a note. It was quite a simple note that talked of giving space to her housemates, and suggesting that Sonico was unhappy living there.

So instead, Sonico can be found with her bicycle and a large backpack in the various towns and cities. She doesn't appear to have settled anywhere for more than a night, and she has the appearance of a girl who has run away from home.

If you don't see Sonico wandering the towns and villages, that's because she has been spending all of her time in Genessia library. She'll be browsing and hesitating in the fiction aisles, or more likely fast asleep at a desk in a hidden corner of the reference section.

Happy Sonico hunting!

Comments

[shelteringwings]

[Mobius hadn't heard from Sonico in a while despite having called her a few times (was the reception bad in this place? Hell of a time to find out), so it was starting to worry him to death. And when he had things on his mind, he wasn't at his best to do any sort of job or protective work. So, instead of showing up at the Guardian office, he was out and about with Noibat and Houndoom trying to find her, and he was out for as long as he could be to do it.

In Genessia City, Noibat did managed to catch a flash of pink hair going to the library. It would start letting out noises to alert Houndoom and Mobius before fluttering into the library.

Noibat will start peering around the book shelves, letting out little "Noi?"s. Hi Sonico, there's a little bat in there with you.]

[sonicosuper]

*As she made her way round the shelves, Sonico had her headphones on and was happily listening to music, unable to hear Noibat's little noises. By the time she saw a flicker of him round the corner, Sonico had quite a pie of books in her arms. She wriggled awkwardly to turn the music off and put her headphones down, then peered round one of the shelves to check that her mind hadn't been playing tricks on her*

Noibat...? No Mobius...?

[shelteringwings]

[Noibat chirped happily when Sonico noticed it. When she mentioned Mobius, Noibat would point with its wing towards the entrance in attempt to relay that Mobius was on his way. Or at least, as well as a little bat incapable of human speech could manage.

It certainly wouldn't take long for Houndoom to find Noibat, and was immediately followed by Mobius. His eyes lit up when he saw Sonico, feeling a wave of relief as he let out a heavy sigh and smiled at her. He was overwhelmed with the desire to hug her, but he caught himself when he spotted the books she was holding. Hugging her while she was holding those would be very awkward for both of them.]

Sonico, thank goodness. [His feathers folded back slightly.] Where have you been?

[sonicosuper]

*Sonico looked in that direction when she figured that Noibat was pointing. She took a few steps that way when Houndoom appeared and smiled at the Pokemon, pleased to see it. But her eyes lifted hopefully, waiting for Mobius. When he looked at her that way, Sonico smiled at him and flushed all over with warmth. If she knew anything about him wanting to hug her, she would have really regretted those books*

Hmm? *Her head tilted slightly as she looked at them all, not really understanding what was going on* I've been here. Mostly. A little bit around Genessia and Nova. And back here again.

[shelteringwings]

O-oh. Here and Nova, huh?

[He felt a little embarrassed but he shook his head.]

Sorry. None of my calls were going through and I couldn't find you anywhere in Attleton. I got worried, so I asked these two to help me look for you, to make sure you were okay.

[He turned to look at Noibat and Houndoom with a smile, patting them both. He'd owe them treats later for sure, and the two looked happy to have helped ease Mobius' worries. He looked back to Sonico, his feathers perking. That's a lot of books she has there.]

Oh- can I get those for you? [He blinked then.] Are you gonna check all of those out?

[sonicosuper]

*At first, Sonico was too busy enjoying how nice it felt to know that Mobius had worried about her. But then she realised how much she must have inconvenienced him and she stared apologetically instead*

Oh! I'm so sorry! I haven't looked at my device at all. I've been so busy reading and studying. I'm very sorry.

*She looked a little troubled by the fact that she had put him out of his way so much. As he mentioned the books, she realised her arms were starting to hurt a little from holding them. There were several large reference books as well as a couple of paperbacks on the top*

No... I was planning on just reading them here. I have a little desk space in the corner over there.

[shelteringwings]

No no, it's okay. I'm just glad it was me just being paranoid and nothing happened to you.

[Because if something happened to her, he wouldn't know how to react. If someone would have done anything to hurt her...

Well, at least that's not the case, and that relief he felt was very apparent his smile and tone of voice. Maybe it was silly that he got so paranoid, but really? He wasn't ashamed of it.]

Here, let me. [He reached over and took the majority of the book stack from her, beaming a smile.] Would you mind if I joined you? Unless I'd distract you from your reading.

[sonicosuper]

Nothing has happened to me.

*Sonico smiled gently as she replied, still incredibly pleased to know that Mobius cared. That felt good*

Oh. Thank you.

*She let him take some of the books, hoping that he hadn't noticed the couple of romance novel she shoved onto the pile. She flushed at his comment and lowered her eyes bashfully*

I'm sure you will distract me...but I don't mind.

*Sonico took a small breath and dared herself to look back up and him with a teasing smile*

I think I'd like to be distracted by you.

*Then at once she realised that she probably sounded utterly ridiculous, shuffling forward awkwardly as she turned towards the desk she was using*

[sakuya_izayoi]

And here comes Sakuya. She found the note and, being as over-protective as she was, immediately set out to find Sonico.

Sakuya eventually spotted her (thanks to her pink hair) cycling through Attleton. The maid drifted down, keeping up in the air and waiting for Sonico to be on a relatively straight path before calling out.

"Sonico! Might I have a word?" Sakuya didn't fly much around her so hopefully it wouldn't be too much of a shock. The maid was ready to stop time and zip forward if it looked like Sonico was going to fall or crash her bike.

[sonicosuper]

That was certainly quite the fright, and Sonico slammed on the brakes at once. She jerked forward roughly on her bike and called out in surprise. It took her a moment to realise that, yes, Sakuya was actually there. "Oh! Oh..uhm. Sure. Is something the matter?"

[sakuya_izayoi]

Sakuya flickered a few times when Sonico slammed on the breaks. She wanted to make sure she could catch her if she went flying. Fortunately Sonico kept her balance.

"Well... I saw the note." Sakuya drifted down, landing smoothly next to the bike. "I'm worried about you running around all alone. There are a lot of dangerous people out there."

Sakuya, you're the last person who should be saying something like that.

"Is everything okay?"

[shelteringwings]

[His feathers perked slightly and he couldn't help but grin at her in response.]

Oh yeah? I can certainly pester you for a while. You sure you wanna take that risk?

[And at this time he doesn't see a need to go back to the office, if he's needed then someone there can just ping him. He's more than happy to spend the night with Sonico. Noibat and Houndoom meanwhile exchange knowing glances behind them while he sets the books down. Unaware of the looks his two Pokemon are giving him from behind, he looks at Sonico.]

Can I fetch you a coffee or anything? Then maybe I can pester you and learn what kinda things you read here.

[It could even give him good gift ideas for her in the future, if he gets a good idea of what her interests are.]

[sonicosuper]

I'm not really much of a risk taker... but I think I can make an exception.

*Sonico glances at the look his Pokemon give each to other, and she giggles quietly for a moment. Then she glances down at the books*

Unless you're really busy. I'll understand if you need to go now, or if you have to leave soon.

*She looks up at him again and nods at his offer - she'd kind of forgotten to eat that day so...*

Some coffee would be perfect. And maybe a little bite to eat? If you wouldn't mind? We can have a library picnic.

[sonicosuper]

"Oh..." Sonico glanced down at her bike wheels when Sakuya mentioned the note. She hadn't really intended that anyone other than Kay or Cass would see it. She hoped that she hadn't sounded selfish in it. "Don't worry, I'm not out on the streets all night or anything - I'm finding places to go at night. There are plenty of hotels and things to choose from." She smiled at Sakuya, not nodded her head slowly, only partially. "I'm okay."

[sakuya_izayoi]

"That is beside the point." Her tone was a little strong. "Not all dangers move at night. And drifting from place to place means no one will know where you are consistently. Which puts you in greater danger." She should know considering drifters had been one of Sakuya's favorite targets in the past.

The maid as biting the inside of her lip a little bit, glancing to one side, down at the bike, and back up at Sonico. Asking Sonico to stay in Castlevania was probably more dangerous than just drifting around... Dammit...

texts

[captain_by_the_book]

The note may have been well-intentioned to reassure, but it only adds to Cassian's worries.

Her wanting to give them space, and the obvious implication that she is unhappy with her living conditions... Just her disappearing would have had him worried, but now he feels guilty on top of it.

There will be a fair number of messages arriving in relatively short order, starting with short, unobtrusive ones like Sonico, are you alright, I thought you'd be long since home by now? before they find the note.

Progressing to Sonico, please write back! I'm worried. Are you okay? Please talk to us.

A few such messages later it will be Sonico, if you're angry, then yell at me all you like, but write back! I'm worried for you. I can't stop wondering if you're hurt or if something happened to you. Please respond.

text

[sonicosuper]

*Oops. This was not supposed to happen. Between reading in the library, taking naps, finding places to eat and sleep, Sonico has kind of forgotten to reply to any of these messages. Finally, though, she manages*

Hello! I'm very sorry for the delay in replying. But please so not worry. I promise that I am safe and perfectly okay.

[sonicosuper]

Sonico hung her head because she knew that Sakuya was exactly right - Sonico was not the safest, and Attleton wasn't exactly super safe right now either. "Then... then I'll find a hotel to stay in. Not forever. But the same one for a few days. Then I'll be in the same place. That'll be better, right?"

[sakuya_izayoi]

"Yes... Well... Please do call me from time to time and tell me where you are. I worry." Sonico is far too cinnamon bun for this or any other world.

She paused again for a moment before reaching down. She moved the left side of her skirt, revealing her usual knife garter. Tilting the handle of the blade forward, she deftly pressed or flipped some soft of release. The strap came loose, allowing her to remove the weapon, sheath, and strap from her leg.

"I have plenty of throwing daggers. But this is meant to be used in hand." She offered it to Sonico. "It is a bit heavier than the training knives we have practiced with, but I want you able to defend yourself should something happen."

[alwaysimpaled]

[And every so often, Sonico may feel like she's being watched. If she glances up at the rooftops she may even see a brief glimpse of a familiar red jacket disappearing over the edge.]

Re: text

[captain_by_the_book]

[ Umm... Okay. And now he realizes that maybe he shouldn't have bombarded her with messages. Good going, Cassian. ]

Are you? I'm glad. I'm sorry all the same that you wished to leave.

[ But now he's trying to be a little less pushy. So much oops. ]

[sakuya_izayoi]

Don't worry Dante. Sakuya has your back. Even after arming Sonico she didn't feel comfortable leaving her on her own. And so the maid would occasionally switch out with Dante.

And, yes. She brought some pizza.

text

[sonicosuper]

Yes. I am well.

I just thought that maybe you and Kay would like some time together just the two of you for a little while.

[sonicosuper]

"But nothing has happened. I decided to spend a few days away from home, that's all..." If there were a real issue she would definitely call Sakuya for some help.

Sonico watched Sakuya with her knives, half worried and half interested by them. She bit her lip as she took the weapon from her, "Oh... Thank you... It's nice."

Re: text

[captain_by_the_book]

Oh. I didn't realize it would look that way. We didn't mean to chase you out of your own house. Have we been so caught up in another lately?